The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-11-03


which way should she turn! There was
no path, not even footprint to show
her which way she hal come. and all
around and above her lowered the tall
trees, and the thick bushes shut her in
on every side. She was lost! What
should she do:
She sat down on log and thought
about it. She dropped the little toad
by her side. and reaching far into tho
depths Of the big sunbonnet. she wiped
the tears out Of her eyes with her dirty
little hand. What forlorn little
maiden she was. away off in the woods
with no one to talk to, no one to take
care Of her! What could she do? Why,
follow the cow. Of course. She always
found her way home somehow. and she
was the only living thing near that she
knew; and although she was not very
sociable. she had sort Of friendly way
of switching her tail, and even if she
did look inquiringly at the big pink
sunbonnet. she never questioned ills
right to be there. She moved calmly
along, cropping the leaves and grass as
she went, with apparent disregard OF
the little figure that followed her SO
wearily. She turned into a swamp
where the wet, spongy ground gave
way to her feet with i sucking sound.
Jennie knew no way but to 60. too, and
the little shoes were soon soaked and
the dress soiled and torn; the sunbon-
net hung hopclessly around her neck
by the strings. but she always kept the
COW in sight. although her little limbs
ached and her lips would culver somc-
times.
She thought Of the Indian children
playing in the meadow; of the boys
and girls in the schoolroom learning
their lessons. and of her gentle mother
moving about among them. She
wondered il tomorrow had come, she
had been away so long. But the sun
had been shining all the time, SO that
could not be. and she suppressed a sob
as she thought Of the dark night in
those lonely woods.
But what is that sound SO far away
that she can scarcely hear it? If she
did not see Brindlc near and hear her
bell as she tosses her head, she would
think thai she was lost to even the old
cow, for it surely is . bell lingin:
through the woods. She listens, and
as it becomes palmer she feels sure that
she has heard it before. Nearer ii
comes, and to her joy she recognizes
the dear old dinner-bell, and then she
thinks, for the first time. how hungry
she really is. Perhaps it is evening,
and Brindle has found her way home
IS usual, and she hears the bell ringing
for supper! But the COW seems in no
hurry as she leisurely brushes OF the
dies with her long tail. Jennie stands
still to listen, and the bell continues to
ring, sounding louder every moment.
And then sho remembers how, last
winter, when some of the men We're lost
in the deep snow, the rest had gone out
to hunt them and rung the big bell 70
guide them home; and she knows they
must be looking for her.
Papa. here amt she cries, in her
thin little voice, and echo answers,
..Here am"
Nearer they come. and she takes of
the big sunbonnet and lets the breeze
toss back the tangled carls from her
hot forehead, as she almost holds he,
breath to listen. When her father, fol-
lowed by several tall Indians. who all
love the little pale-faced girl, makes his
way through the bushes, this is what he
sees: A little girl. with tangled curl;
and tear-stained cheeks, standing up to
her waist III the tall ferns. In on.
hand she holds the string Of tho biz
sunbonnet, which lies on the ground al
her side, and the other clasps tight,
the ugly little toad, which she had
picked up again as friend, not to bt
parted from out in those lonely woods
where friends were SO scarce. But
now, as she sees their tall forms press
ing through the trees. she stretches oul
both hands. and with a glad cry springs
into her fathers arms.
Papa, have you had dinncr?' she
asked, wishing to settle the most i'm
portant question first. as be lifted hel
aud turned to retracc his steps.
10. no. darling" said papa, smiling,
.it is not near dinner-tilne yet"
Not near dinner.timc. and she hal
been gone SO long!
"rm so glad replied Jennie. as she
nestled in her fathers arms, '.'caus,
I'm drefful hungry"
Then the little head dropped and sh,
was sound asleep. and knew no mor'
until she felt her mammals kisses OF
her cheek. Aud she never found Ou
where the cow got the milk. k.-Ne!i